Air conditioner vaporizer



July 28, 1964 s. G. HOUSE AIR coNnmcNER vAPoRIzER Filed July 26. 1962United States Patent O 3,142,161 Am CGNDITIONER VAPORIZER Samuel GreshamHouse, Abilene, Tex., assignor to George W. Owens, Dallas, Tex. FiledJuly 26, 1962, Ser. No. 212,661 1 Claim. (Cl. 62-238) This inventionrelates to an evaporative generator for any type of air conditioner, andmore particularly to an air conditioner for vehicles such asautomobiles, trucks, buses or the like.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an airconditioner with ample supply of refrigerant to accommodate all types,which is adapted to utilize the heat from the exhaust manifold of thevehicle engine wherein an absorption refrigerating or cooling mechanismwill be actuated to eiectively and eiliciently cool a vehicle or otherbody in a desired manner, and wherein according to the present inventionthere is provided a pressure control mechanism, and wherein the presentinvention is adapted to utilize steel wool therein in order to preventsloshing of the contents of the generator or boiler of an absorptionsystem, as for example when a vehicle is traveling on rough roads,making sharp turns or the like.

A further object is to provide a vehicle air conditioner withrefrigerant gas which utilizes the Electrolux motionless refrigerationsystem, and wherein according to the present invention there has beenprovided a novel and highly eicient means for preventing sloshing of thecontents of the boiler While the vehicle is traveling along highways orthe like, and wherein instead of using a flame or electric heat element,according to the present invention the generator or boiler is placedatop or contiguous to the exhaust manifold of the engine to insure thatthere will be suilicient evaporation, and wherein the present inventionis adapted to be attached rigidly to the exhaust manifold in anysuitable manner, as for example by means of clamps, studs or bolts, andwherein an automatic pressure control valve is used to control pressureand operation of the air conditioner.

Still another object is to provide an auto-truck air conditionerevaporator boiler to supply needed gases, which utilizesstainless steeland wherein there is provided an improved means for controlling thepressure of the iluid in any system, and wherein there is provided ameans for controlling the exact amount of return condensed liquid goingback into the boiler on the engine manifold, the stainless steel woolbeing extremely durable and serving to properly hold back all liquid andwherein only vapor gas is permitted to go on to be condensed and whereinthis arrangement insures that there will be a rapid siphoning action fora constant supply of gas and wherein there will be no splash orsloshing.

Still another object is to provide such an air conditionerwith'refrigerant boiler that is economical to manufacture and'eflcientin operation, and which is rugged in structure and foolproof in use.These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from areading of the following specification and claim, together with theaccompanying drawings, wherein like parts are referred to and indicatedby like reference characters, and wherein:

FIG. l is an elevational view, with parts broken away and in section,illustrating the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view showing certainconstructional details of the pressure control mechanism and the boileror generator.

FIG. 3 is a sectional View taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral indicates aconventional engine such as an internal combustion engine of anautomobile, truck or the like, and

j 3,142,161 Patented July 28, 1964 ice y the engine 10 includes theusual exhaust manifold 11,

FIG. 1. According to the present invention, a hollow boiler or generator12 is arranged contiguous to the exhaust manifold 11, and the numeral 13indicates one form of clamping means which is arranged in engagementwith the boiler 12. As shown in FIG. 3, arcuate ange portions 14 mayengage a portion of the boiler 12, and the clamp 13 may include straps15 which are axed as at 16 to the flange portions 14, and the straps 15may be provided with spaced apart lips or apertured ears 17 which have asecuring element or bolt and nut assembly 18 arranged in engagementtherewith. As shown in FIG. 2, the interior of the boiler 12 may havestainless steel wool 19 therein, for a purpose to be later described.

According to the present invention there is also proi vided a pressurecontrol unit which is indicated generally by the numeral 20, and thepressure control unit 20 is similar to the automatic pressure controlshown and described in prior Patent 2,469,648, dated May l0, 1949. Thepressure control 20 includes la cylinder 21 which has closures 22 and 23on the ends thereof. An adjustment screw 24 extends through the closure22, and the numeral 25 indicates a bellows in the cylinder 21, and thereis provided a coil spring 26 within the bellows 25. The numeral 27indicates a bellows which is spaced from the bellows 25, and a iloatingmember 28 is interposed between the bellows 25 and 27, and the floatingmember 28 is operatively connected to a rotary cut-off valve 29 which isrotatably arranged in a main housing 39, and the floating member 28 isconnected to the valve 29 as at 30 'and 31. The valve 29 is providedwith a passageway or bore 32 therein which is adapted to move into andout of alignment or registry with spaced apart ports 33 and 34 in thehousing 39. The numeral 35 indicates a line or conduit whichcommunicates with the port 33 through the media of a fitting 36, and thenumeral 37 indicates `a return line which has one end connected to theport 34 as, for example, by means of a fitting 38, and the other endofthe return line 37 is connected to an end of the boiler 12, FIG. 2.

The numeral 40 indicates a high pressure line which is connected to theboiler 12, and a by-pass or branch line 41 is connected into the highpressure line 40 as shown in FIG. l, and the branch line 41 is suitablyconnected to an end of the pressure control cylinder 21, as for exampleby means of a iitting 42. The numeral 43 indicates a gas refrigerator ofthe absorption type which is of conventional construction such as thatshown in prior Patents 1,949,651 and 2,659,214. The steel wool is onlyarranged in the boiler.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that there has been provided an airconditioner gas supply, and in use with the parts arranged as shown inthe drawings, it will be noted that the boiler 12 is arranged contiguousto the exhaust manifold 11 of the vehicle engine 10 so that heat fromthe exhaust manifold will be conveyed to the boiler by contact in orderto properly actuate the gases to the air conditioning and refrigeratingmechanism. The clamp 13 is of the rigid type, and the control valveprovides a means for regulating the amount of cooling provided, so thatthe control valve makes adjustment of the boiler unnecessary.

The high pressure line 40 which is connected to an end of the boiler 12has the by-pass line or branch line 41V direction and with the member 28connected as at 39 and 31 to the rotary valve 29, it will be seen thatthis pressure will cause corresponding rotational movement of the valve29 so that the passageway 32 will be auto matically moved to the properposition relative to the ports 33 and 34 and this therefore provides ameans for automatically regulating the flow of material into the line 37from the line or conduit 35.

The mechanism 43 is suitably connected to the lines 4i? and 35, forexample, as shown in FIG. l and this mechanism 43 can be used for anydesired purposes such as supplying cool air to air condition or cool theinterior of an automobile, truck, or other vehicle or structure.

The parts can be made of any suitable material and in different shapesor sizes.

The numeral 35 indicates the absorbed liquid return line. In FIG. 2 thenumeral 27 indicates the high side bellows, and the numeral 37 indicatesthe return line, and the numeral 12 indicates the manifold boiler. Theunit 20 functions as a manifold evaporator pressure control means ormechanism.

In particular the present invention is adapted to be used to supplygases to any automobile and truck air conditioner and wherein thepresent invention eliminates the necessity of having a maze ofcompressors, belts and pulleys and the like, and the present inventionembodies a simple and safe construction and operation. The presentinvention is so ecient that it will keep the cab of a large truck coldfor a considerable period of time such as four hours even after thetruck engine has been shut off. Also the unit can be attached to arefrigerated trailer on a truck having a Siphon system so as to readilypull the temperature inside the trailer down to a desired temperature inaddition to cooling the truck cab, and the present invention operateswithout requiring any power from the truck engine.

It will be seen that according to the present invention there isutilized the principle of a ame powered refrigeration system withoutusing ame and instead the present invention draws heat by conductionfrom the manifold unit.

Heretofore gas operated refrigerators have not been adapted to vehiclessuch as automobiles and it is to be noted that in householdrefrigerators of the gas operated type, an odd characteristic is usuallypresent. That is, when the door is slammed hard as is sometimesnecessary to make a wom catch work, the refrigerator will defrost.According to the present invention it has been discovered that thesloshing of the liquid inside the boiler must be prevented or thebalance of the system will be temporarily upset and the refrigerationceased for a short time. It will be seen that such a system cannot beused on a car or truck where there will be constant jarring movementswhen the vehicle is on the road and an important discovery has been madethat a larger boiler packed with alloy steel wool is adapted to be usedand the refrigerant can go through the boiler but movement will notaffect it.

As shown in the drawings the large steel wool interior type boiler 12 isattached directly to the manifold.

Thus, it will be seen that the reason that the well known Electroluxmotionless refrigeration system has never been adapted to auto and truckair conditioning is as set forth herein, and according to the presentinvention there has been provided a means for preventing sloshing of thecontents of the boiler on rough roads and sharp turns. Also, instead ofusing a flame or electric heat element as is conventionally utilized insuch refrigeration systems, the elongated boiler is placed atop orcontiguous to the exhaust manifold so as to insure that ampleevaporation will be obtained in a short period of time. In addition, thevehicle will stay cold for hours after the engine is shut off, as forexample when the vehicle is being parked or loaded or the like.

The present invention is especially suitable or useful as a supplier toan automobile air conditioner.

The stainless steel wool 19 is durable even under extreme heat and willnot be adversely affected even by acid or high pressure fluids actingthereon. The steel wool helps control evaporation and also controlspressure in a desired manner by restraining the return of condensedliquid back to the evaporating boiler chamber and thus it is relativelyeasy to control the pressure in the desired manner. The presentinvention makes no claim to the Siphon system of refrigeration per se,but according to the present invention there is utilized a pressurecontrol mean similar to that shown and described in prior Patent2,469,648 in conjunction with the appendix line 41 which leads from thepressure tank or pressure line to the bellows end of the control unit toopen and close the main high Y pressure line, and the adjustment screw24 can be rotated or adjusted to regulate the desired results. Thus, thepresent invention provides a means for automatically regulating theexact amount of absorbed refrigerant liquid going back into the boileror generator tank on the engine manifold and this will therefore alsocontrol the vapor pressure and hold it exactly as set for by the ad-Ijustment screw.

The stainless steel wool will stand up even under adverse conditionssuch as extreme heat and the steel wool Y will hold back all liquidletting only the vapor go on to be condensed and then be returned torecycle over and over again under just the proper cooling conditions andwith rapid siphoning ability for a constant supply of gas and whereinthere will be no splashing or sloshing.

As stated previously the cooling system will continue i to function evenafter the engine is shut of, and this is thought to be due to the factthat as long as the manifold stays warm, the cooling system willcontinue to operate. Thus, the present invention employs heat convertedfrom the engine manifold to produce gas power for cooling.

` With the present invention there is provided a means for furnishingample steady supply of refrigerant gases to any existing absorbentsystem now in use without requiring a llame or electric element to heatthe evaporative chamber, and wherein pressure is controlled by stiflingthe condensed liquids returning to the manifold heated boiler andwherein there is no sloshing due to the metallic wool interior. Thus,the important aspect or feature of the present invention is the use ofthe manifold heat induction to the generator tank, and wherein there isno splashing or sloshing of the tank contents due to the metallic wooliiltration and this coupled with the pressure control valve serves togovern the amount of absorbed liquid refrigerant returned to the vaporgenerating tank. No claim is made to the concept of refrigeration byheat per se, but it is within the scope of the present invention toinclude or embody the manifold heat induction tank.

The present invention is practical and highly elcient and wherein thereare no moving parts to readily get out of order, and wherein the devicecan be made self-con tained and hermetically closed and automatic inoperation and wherein there is good and efficient heat exchange in thedesired manner. The present invention operates without resort tomechanical power actuated or relaying devices such as circulating andcompression pumps and the ypresent invention avoids the use of machineryand apparatus which requires expert knowledge or skillfor its operationand the present invention is safe and reliable and eicient andeconomical to use. While the present invention has been describedspecifically for use in conjunction with a vehicle such as anautomobile, truck, or the like, it is to be understood that it iscapable of being used in other localities or for other purposes, and forexample it can be used in household refrigerators or household airconditioners as Well as in large industriali applications, and whereinit can also be used on boats, trains, railroad cars or the like. Alsothe present invention can be used in cooling the interior of trailers orother units or structures. The steel wool is important, and the presentinvention will operate even when a vehicle is traveling over roughroads, and the cooling sys-` tem will operate even when the parts arenot level. By making the material 19 of a substance such as stainlesssteel, the material 19 will not rust or corrode and hence is practicallyindestructible.

The present invention can be used in any application or location whereit is desired to produce low temperatures as, for example, when heat isto be removed from a substance. The cooling system is adapted to work onthe absorption principle and it uses heat energy as a source of powerand it has no moving parts, and liquid ammonia can serve as therefrigerant. During the refrigeration cycle, heat from the manifold isapplied to the generator 12, and the generator may contain the strongsolution of ammonia gas dissolved in water and the heat will cause thesolution to boil and ammonia vapor and some of the solution will rise tothe separator which removes the liquid, and the hot gas continues itsrise to the condenser where it is cooled and liquefied. Since the waterhas been separated from the ammonia, the liquid is now almost pureammonia, and the liquid ammonia can flow through a tube into theevaporator or freezing unit where it vaporizes with hydrogen gas, andthe hydrogen equalizes the pressure between the condenser and theevaporator. The vapor absorbs heat and produces refrigeration orcooling, and the heavy mixture passes downward into the air cooledabsorber where the ammonia is absorbed by Water. The light hydrogen gasseparates from the solution, rises through a pipe above the absorber andreturns to the evaporator, and the cool ammonia solution ows back to thegenerator.

The throttle arm 31 is adapted to extend up far enough to permit fullhalf circular swing of the cut olf disk or valve 29 to fully close ilowin the return line when head pressure rises excessively, and thisconstruction is shown in detail in FIG. 3 of prior Patent 2,469,648.

With further reference to the refrigeration circuits, there is a gaseouspressure output, and absorbed liquid refrigerant to the namelessgenerator for revaporizing into gaseous refrigerant, and wherein thesystem does not need any replenishment, as long as the manifoldgenerator temperature is automatically controlled properly.

Minor changes in shape, size and rearrangement of details coming withinthe field of invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, ifdesired.

What is claimed is:

A device of the character described, comprising an engine embodying anexhaust manifold, a generator positioned adjacent to said manifold, aclamp arranged in engagement with said generator, a pressure line and areturn line connected to opposite ends of said generator, a pressurecontrol unit embodying a cylinder having closures 0n its ends, bellowsin said cylinder, an adjusting screw extending through one of saidclosures, a floating member arranged in said cylinder, a main housinghaving a cutolr valve rotatably arranged therein, said valve having apassageway therein, ports in said housing adapted to have saidpassageway move into and out of registry therewith, the return linewhich has one of its ends connected to the generator having its otherend communicating with one of said ports, an absorbed liquid line havingone of its ends connected with the other port, a branch line having anend connected to said pressure line and its other end connected to saidcylinder, an absorption refrigeration mechanism operatively connected tosaid pressure line and absorbed liquid return line, metallic materialarranged in said generator for preventing splashing and sloshing in thegenerator, and the metallic material being arranged in the form of aunitary mass which is arranged within the generator from one end of thegenerator to the other end thereof and said material permittingrefrigerant to pass through the generator, said branch line beingconnected to said pressure line at a point between the generator and theabsorption refrigeration mechanism.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,949,651 Maiuri Mar. 16, 1934 2,148,571 Myerhoefer Feb. 28, 19392,305,923 Held Dec. 22, 1942 2,469,648 House May 10, 1949 2,659,214Coggburn Nov. 17, 1953 2,839,274 Polin June 17, 1958 2,840,259 Steidllune 24, 1958 3,055,187 Rogers Sept. 25, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 61,878Australia Oct. 25, 1913

